Background

I have always been interested in creating a better world. I believe that the social sciences, the humanities, and the life and physical sciences all provide valuable insight into the human condition. For me, some of the most exciting research takes place at interfaces between these fields of study. I was drawn to behavioral neuroscience because it offered the opportunity to transform some of the exciting ideas I read about as a psychology student into mechanistic studies of the nervous system.

My experience in the Department of Behavioral Neuroscience

My experience studying in the Department of Behavioral Neuroscience was wonderful. I was one of the few students from my cohort who chose to undertake a summer research rotation prior to my first year of classes, so I was able to complete four research rotations prior to joining a lab. I chose to do these rotations with professors who had some very different strengths and areas of study, which allowed me to really sample a lot of different aspects of behavioral neuroscience.

In the end, I found myself most at home doing work that might be called something between behavioral pharmacology and reproductive endocrinology. I joined the laboratory of Professor Finn, where I was encouraged to develop my own research interests within the scope of a well-defined course of study. My dissertation research focused on biological responses to progesterone at the sub-cellular, cellular, and behavioral levels.

Beyond the dissertation work, OHSU is simply a great environment for study. I came to OHSU with some pretty specific ideas about what I wanted to accomplish and where I was headed afterwards. But do you remember that scene in "The Wizard of Oz" when the picture turns to color? That's what it was like coming to OHSU. It may sound like an exaggeration, but OHSU really changed my world and my way of thinking about health, medicine, and research. Whether you are a prospective student considering a career in research, a Ph.D. candidate looking for a post-doc position, or someone seeking a faculty appointment, I can honestly say that this vibrant community of researchers has a lot to offer you.

After graduation

After graduating from the Department of Behavioral Neuroscience I worked briefly for a non-profit organization called the Canyon Ranch Institute, and I taught for a year in the psychology departments of Portland State University and Lewis & Clark College. I am now back in school studying medicine in OHSU’s M.D. program in the Class of 2015, and I am working with the Women’s Health Research Unit in the areas of family planning and women's mental health.